Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Pasadena Sandwich Shop to Donate All August 9 Sales to Support Local College-Bound Students

Perry’s Joint, a sandwich shop located near the Altadena border, will donate 100 percent of its sales on Saturday, August 9, to fund scholarships for six college-bound students from Altadena and Pasadena, marking the business’s 15th Annual Community Driven Scholarship fundraiser.

The event, held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 2051 Lincoln Avenue, invites community members to support by dining in or ordering takeout. Contributions can also be made through the fundraiser’s official GoFundMe campaign; call (626) 798-4700 for information.

Founded by Perry and Melenia Bennett in 2010, the scholarship program transforms one day of business into a full-scale community investment in education. Unlike traditional corporate donations, Perry’s Joint commits all revenue earned during the event—including every sandwich sold and beverage served—to support higher education opportunities for local youth.

This year’s scholarship recipients include:

• Mariah Ellis – Syracuse University
• Heavyn Harom – Baylor University
• Jaelle Watkins – Columbia University
• Mykia Johnson – UCLA
• Bronx Williams – Morehouse College
• Kennedy Farr – Morgan State University

“These young people represent everything good about our community,” said owner Perry Bennett,

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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Fuller Celebrates Record-Setting Fundraising Year: Tallies $30 Million in Donations

Courtesy of FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Fuller Seminary and The Fuller Foundation are celebrating a record-setting year in philanthropic support, having raised $30.29 million in the 2024–2025 academic year—the most successful fundraising year in Fuller’s history outside of its previous comprehensive campaigns.

This achievement reflects the deep generosity and trust of Fuller’s global community of supporters, who are investing in the seminary’s mission to form Christian leaders for church, culture, and the marketplace.

In a landmark shift, Fuller experienced a year-over-year increase in the number of donors to the seminary for the first time in over a decade—with nearly 1,300 individuals and organizations contributing this past year. This renewed momentum in donor engagement signals a growing sense of connection and confidence among alumni, churches, and supporters around the world.

“This extraordinary year of giving reflects both enduring loyalty and new enthusiasm for Fuller’s mission,” said Lauren Yamaoka, senior vice president of advancement at The Fuller Foundation. “To see donor numbers rise for the first time in over ten years is incredibly encouraging,

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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Trump’s New Olympic Task Force Could Oversee Rose Bowl Soccer Finals Security, Planning

President Donald Trump has appointed himself chair of a new federal task force that will coordinate security and logistics for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, including the high-profile soccer semifinals and finals scheduled for Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Stadium.

The executive order, which names Vice President J.D. Vance as vice chair, establishes federal oversight of Olympic preparations across all venues, with cabinet-level officials from the departments of State, Treasury, Defense, Commerce, Transportation and Homeland Security serving as members.

For Pasadena, the task force’s creation signals the likelihood of increased federal involvement in planning events that city officials earlier a “huge win” for local tourism. The Rose Bowl is set to host both men’s and women’s soccer semifinals and finals during the Games, pending final approval from the International Olympic Committee.

“The aim is to make the Games safe, seamless and historically successful,” Trump said in announcing the task force, which will coordinate federal planning for security, transportation and entry and exit procedures at Olympic venues.

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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

In Altadena, 1,307 Rebuild Applications Have Been Submitted and 138 Permits Issued

Seven months after the Eaton Fire, Altadena is working through an extensive rebuild process, with 1,307 applications submitted and 138 permits issued, Los Angeles County officials confirmed this week.

At the August 4 Altadena Community meeting, Supervisor Kathryn Barger reported that debris removal is nearly complete, with more than 99% of properties cleared and the final Army Corps-abated site finished. The last private property in the affected area is scheduled for debris clearance on Aug. 14.

Restoration of a local golf course is underway, and clean-up efforts at Elliot School remain on track for early-to-mid September completion.

Permit processing remains a top concern, with 807 plan reviews in progress. County officials outlined turnaround goals of 10 business days for initial reviews and five business days for resubmissions. The County has received 379 refund forms and 127 permit waiver requests and continues to waive and refund fees for eligible homeowners.

Barger also addressed mounting anxiety over insurance, highlighting ongoing investigations into State Farm’s claims handling practices and citing “hundreds” of alleged violations by the California Fair Plan.

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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Army Corps Nears August 14 Completion in Eaton Fire Debris Removal

Final 1% of properties slated for clearance this week

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is poised to wrap up its monumental debris removal operation in the Eaton Fire zone, with officials projecting full clearance of affected properties by Aug. 14. The effort, which began months ago, has already seen 99% of enrolled parcels cleared.

Of the 5,704 properties that opted into the debris removal program, fewer than 25 remain, according to Corps representatives. More than 5,500 properties have been cleared and formally returned to residents and Los Angeles County.

“This mission is about treating every property with care and compassion, from the first to the last,” said Lt. Col. David Wirt of the Army Corps, highlighting the team’s commitment. He added that while large-scale logistics have driven progress, crews have also adapted to site-specific challenges.

Among the most complex efforts has been the removal of debris from Forest Service cabins located in remote areas. Limited access required aviation assets to airlift equipment and materials.

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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Students Without Legal Status Have The Right To Attend Public School. Will Trump Change That?

By Carolyn Jones, CALMATTERS

Funding cuts. Raids near campuses. Exclusion from programs like Head Start and career training. For months, the Trump administration has been chipping away at the rights of students without legal status in public schools.

Could the administration take away those students’ right to free public school entirely? Experts say that may be the next step.

“People have worried about this for a couple decades, but this is different,” said Patricia Gándara, education professor and co-director of the Civil Rights Project at UCLA. “Right now we have to be extremely vigilant. These people will stop at nothing.”

A 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Plyler v. Doe, guarantees all students, regardless of immigration status, the right to a free public education in K-12 schools. But last year the conservative Heritage Foundation called for the Supreme Court to overturn the ruling and for states to charge tuition to immigrant families, even if their children are U.S.

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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

LA County OKs Ordinance Capping Allowable Temperatures in Rental Units

CITY NEWS SERVICE

All rental housing units in unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County will soon be required to have a maximum indoor temperature of 82 degrees under an ordinance approved by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

“The proposed ordinance will enhance and strengthen the health and safety of occupants residing in rental housing units by ensuring indoor temperatures do not reach levels that are dangerous to health,” according to a letter sent to the board by the county Department of Public Health.

The ordinance will also require landlords to allow tenants to install portable cooling devices — such as air-conditioning units or fans — or other “non-mechanical cooling methods” — such as blackout curtains — to control the temperature in their units. That requirement is expected to take effect in 30 days, but enforcement of the overall 82-degree maximum temperature requirement will not begin until Jan. 1, 2027.

The ordinance was approved on a 4-0 vote, with Supervisor Kathryn Barger absent.

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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Seven Months, Few Answers

Frustrated Eaton Fire survivors call out State Farm at ‘Dena Rise Up’ rally in Altadena

Seven months after the devastating Eaton Fire tore through neighborhoods in Altadena and northeast Pasadena, dozens of homeowners, renters, and activists gathered in front of a local State Farm office Tuesday to demand answers — and justice.

The rally, along with music from Los Jornaleros—a familiar sight in Altadena and Pasadena—was organized by the “Dena Rise Up” coalition, as both a protest and a community vigil, part of a new monthly campaign that organizers say will continue “on or near the 7th day of every month, for as long as we need to.”

Their message was clear: survivors are still struggling, and insurance companies, especially State Farm, are failing to deliver.

“For my mother, it’s been a nightmare,” said Eshelle Williams, whose family lost four homes in the fire.

“She had paid her State Farm premiums for decades — they were included in her mortgage — and yet we found out,

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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Local Heroes to Be Honored at Tribute Luncheon After Altadena Fires

Community event recognizes men who risked their lives during devastating wild fires

A Taste of Culture will host the 2025 Men of Distinction Tribute Luncheon to honor local heroes who saved lives during the catastrophic Altadena fires.

The event, scheduled for August 17 at the University Club of Pasadena, aims to recognize ordinary men who performed extraordinary acts of courage during one of the most destructive wildfires in global history.

“Their bravery is a powerful reminder of the strength that lies within our community; the profound impact of love and the strength found in standing together and protecting one another,” said Edward Boyd, CEO of L.E.A.P.

Community members are invited to nominate men who helped others during the crisis, such as those who devised rescue plans, re-entered fire areas to save people, or stopped to assist others while evacuating.

Nine finalists will be selected to receive the Men of Distinction Award, including a certificate and gift card. All nominees will receive a complimentary ticket to the luncheon,

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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

La Cañada Flintridge Enlists Goats, Sheep for Wildfire Prevention

CITY NEWS SERVICE

La Cañada Flintridge is planning to use an animal-style approach to prevent wildfires in part of the mountainside community, city officials said Tuesday.

With funding from Cal Fire’s Wildfire Prevention Grant Program, the city is “reintroducing one of nature’s oldest vegetation management tools: grazing animals.”

Animal grazing, particularly by goats and cattle, can be an effective method for wildfire prevention by reducing the amount of dry vegetation that can serve as fuel for a fire. Grazing livestock consume grasses and shrubs, creating natural firebreaks and areas with less dense vegetation, which can slow down fire spread.

Different grazing animals have different preferences for vegetation. Goats, for example, are known for their ability to consume woody browse and climb to reach higher vegetation, making them effective at removing “ladder fuels” that can carry fire from the ground to tree canopies.

Sheep graze on grass, clovers and broad leaf plants.

The announcement comes eight months after the Eaton Fire devastated large swaths of in Altadena and parts of in Pasadena.

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